CUNA Planning MBL Hike the Hill

The voting machines have barely cooled after Tuesday’s election, but CUNA is already making moves in anticipation of a productive lame duck session.

The trade association is planning a “hike the hill” event during the last week of November that is expected to draw 500 warm bodies to Capitol Hill to lobby for an increase in the member business lending cap on credit unions.

Senior Vice President of Political Affairs Richard Gose said CUNA has received RSVPs from credit unions and their business owners in nearly 30 states. About one-quarter of those expected to be on hand to stump for MBLs are business owners, Gose said, representing “coalition partners” in the business sector that support the cap increase.

“This issue is about jobs and small business, and providing them with the capital they need to grow and thrive,” Gose said. “The bankers want to make it about credit unions versus banks, which it isn’t.”

Former CUNA president turned lobbyist and consultant Dan Mica said with the election behind them, Congressional Republicans may view member business lending as a chance to “make peace” with credit unions they refused to support during the campaign for fear of alienating bankers and their donations.

“Their strategy of obstructionism didn’t work, and both sides are tired of that approach,” Mica said. “They’re going to have to show some results now, and I think that will help resolve the fiscal cliff, and it will help credit unions advance their issues, too.”